1926.352(i): Cleaning Containers Before Hot Work
Drums, containers or hollow structures that have held toxic or flammable substances must, before welding, cutting or heating, either be filled with water or thoroughly cleaned of those substances, ventilated and tested. Hot work on steel pipelines containing natural gas follows 49 CFR part 192.
Key takeaways
- 1926.352(i) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 6 times in the last 3 years, in 6 inspections, with $34,588 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.352(i) is one requirement inside 1926.352 Fire prevention, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart J). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(i) Drums containers, or hollow structures which have contained toxic or flammable substances shall, before welding, cutting, or heating is undertaken on them, either be filled with water or thoroughly cleaned of such substances and ventilated and tested. For welding, cutting and heating on steel pipelines containing natural gas, the pertinent portions of regulations issued by the Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety, 49 CFR part 192, Minimum Federal Safety Standards for Gas Pipelines, shall apply. 6 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.352.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.352(i).
At 1:00 p.m. on December 10, 2024, Employee #1 was using a torch to heat the steel lid of a tank, intending to cut a hole for installing a level indicator. Flammable gas inside the tank ignited as the torch was applied, causing the tankto…
Where and how often it was cited
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.352(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.352(i).
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Frequently asked questions
What must be done before welding a used drum?
Fill it with water, or thoroughly clean it of the substances, ventilate it and test it.
Which containers does this cover?
Drums, containers or hollow structures that have contained toxic or flammable substances.
What rules apply to natural gas pipelines?
The pertinent portions of 49 CFR part 192, Minimum Federal Safety Standards for Gas Pipelines.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.352 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.